Welcome to Perspectives online Welcome to Perspectives online and on air from WFSU Public Media I'm and on air from WFSU Public Media I'm Tom Flanigan so good to have you Tom Flanigan so good to have you at the other end of the the cybernet at the other end of the the cybernet right now and also the radio waves this right now and also the radio waves this program program pre-recorded on Thursday September 17th pre-recorded on Thursday September 17th for playback on Tuesday for playback on Tuesday September 22nd now we're using the Zoom September 22nd now we're using the Zoom platform platform to connect with our guests and we'll to connect with our guests and we'll also remind you the show will appear also remind you the show will appear both on WFSU fm both on WFSU fm and the WFSU Public Media facebook page and the WFSU Public Media facebook page now this program is the first in our now this program is the first in our series of Political Perspectives series of Political Perspectives in anticipation of the November third in anticipation of the November third general election in Leon County general election in Leon County and over the course of the next few and over the course of the next few weeks we're going to be talking with weeks we're going to be talking with candidates vying for several candidates vying for several offices including two Leon County offices including two Leon County commission contests commission contests one Tallahassee city commission race and one Tallahassee city commission race and also a local referendum on a proposed also a local referendum on a proposed children's council children's council for Leon County that's all straight for Leon County that's all straight ahead today's Political Perspectives ahead today's Political Perspectives features the candidates for the Leon features the candidates for the Leon County school superintendent there is a County school superintendent there is a sitting sitting incumbent and two challengers uh one who incumbent and two challengers uh one who will appear on the ballot the other who will appear on the ballot the other who is a qualified right in candidate is a qualified right in candidate and will give each candidate a few and will give each candidate a few minutes to introduce themselves talk minutes to introduce themselves talk about their about their background and also to tell us what they background and also to tell us what they consider to be the consider to be the unique qualities that make them the unique qualities that make them the preferred person to do the job and after preferred person to do the job and after that we'll get into some that we'll get into some specific issues pertinent to the school specific issues pertinent to the school district itself district itself so in advance of the program we held a so in advance of the program we held a random Dr.awing for who would start us random Dr.awing for who would start us off the name that came up was off the name that came up was Keisha Williams who is the write-in Keisha Williams who is the write-in candidate miss Williams candidate miss Williams please uh get us started here talk a please uh get us started here talk a little bit about your background little bit about your background and how that contributes to your and how that contributes to your qualifications qualifications for the job of Leon school's for the job of Leon school's superintendent go ahead man superintendent go ahead man hello my name is Keisha Washington hello my name is Keisha Washington it's watching tonight sorry about that it's watching tonight sorry about that no problem I am a writing candidate I'm no problem I am a writing candidate I'm also a native of Tallahassee Florida also a native of Tallahassee Florida I'm born and raised here graduate from I'm born and raised here graduate from gabby high school later on went to gabby high school later on went to the military where I did ten and a half the military where I did ten and a half years after that uh general dynamics years after that uh general dynamics entered the school system in 06 where i entered the school system in 06 where i was pta president zach was pta president zach deck everything you could think of um deck everything you could think of um which was in orlando Florida during that which was in orlando Florida during that time I learned a verbiage I learned to time I learned a verbiage I learned to advocate I came up to Tallahassee advocate I came up to Tallahassee where we learned to be strong supporters where we learned to be strong supporters of teachers and students of teachers and students also learned the curriculum and also also learned the curriculum and also learned how to learned how to do class assignments and teaching as do class assignments and teaching as well well um my credentials might not be heavy as um my credentials might not be heavy as my my opponents but however I'm very involved opponents but however I'm very involved and very aware of what goes on in school and very aware of what goes on in school districts districts and I'm very compassionate of what goes and I'm very compassionate of what goes on in school districts which makes me a on in school districts which makes me a great candidate I'm also aware of the great candidate I'm also aware of the budget budget uh process in the military I was over uh process in the military I was over a billion dollars a budget I was in a a billion dollars a budget I was in a predicament to let everyone know either predicament to let everyone know either we were ready or not to deploy we were ready or not to deploy but over um thousands of soldiers but over um thousands of soldiers whether it's logistics whether it's uh whether it's logistics whether it's uh health-wise we combined together and i health-wise we combined together and i would intel would intel give briefings to our commander and our give briefings to our commander and our battalion sergeant majors battalion sergeant majors on our assignments and the school system on our assignments and the school system um um almost did the same thing but at a pta almost did the same thing but at a pta perspective perspective also helped out with students in also helped out with students in teaching I'm a teaching I'm a mentor as well Leon County school system mentor as well Leon County school system won several awards for volunteer of the won several awards for volunteer of the year year also here locally um and I just love also here locally um and I just love what I do what I do I've been doing it with um without being I've been doing it with um without being paid for it for years paid for it for years so my heart is there my passion is there so my heart is there my passion is there and and I'm Keisha Washington I love to be your I'm Keisha Washington I love to be your great uh superintendent great uh superintendent thank you miss Washington I do thank you miss Washington I do appreciate that and please forgive the appreciate that and please forgive the misidentification misidentification we'd also of course invited the we'd also of course invited the incumbent in the race who is incumbent in the race who is Rocky Hanna the current superintendent Rocky Hanna the current superintendent of schools for Leon County of schools for Leon County at the outset of the program he has not at the outset of the program he has not as yet checked in if he does as yet checked in if he does as we go forward we'll of course include as we go forward we'll of course include him in the him in the conversation as well but we turn next to conversation as well but we turn next to get some get acquainted comments from Dr.

get some get acquainted comments from Dr.

Pam Pam Hightower who is also running for Leon Hightower who is also running for Leon school superintendent uh school superintendent uh miss Hightower go right ahead ma'am tell miss Hightower go right ahead ma'am tell us a bit about yourself and us a bit about yourself and some of your unique qualifications for some of your unique qualifications for the job the job thank you thank you first of all I would thank you thank you first of all I would like to thank you for giving us this like to thank you for giving us this opportunity to get required citizen Leon opportunity to get required citizen Leon County County as you said I am Dr.

Pam Hightower and as you said I am Dr.

Pam Hightower and I'm a candidate for superintendent I'm a candidate for superintendent of schools because I see the need for of schools because I see the need for change and I understand how to move this change and I understand how to move this district forward district forward i want every child regardless of their i want every child regardless of their circumstances circumstances their zip code their social economic their zip code their social economic status to have a high quality education status to have a high quality education experience experience an opportunity to have a promising an opportunity to have a promising career and a promising future career and a promising future i have a bachelor's degree in elementary i have a bachelor's degree in elementary ed and a master's degree in elementary ed and a master's degree in elementary ed ed also a phd in educational leadership also a phd in educational leadership i have served in various capacities i have served in various capacities first as a first as a parent as a volunteer as a parent as a volunteer as a paraprofessional paraprofessional as a teacher a primary specialist a as a teacher a primary specialist a principal principal assistant principal and a district level assistant principal and a district level administrator where I served as the administrator where I served as the mckinney-vento mckinney-vento homeless coordinator and the title one homeless coordinator and the title one director director for the district for the last several for the district for the last several years I have been assigned to years I have been assigned to have been signed to work with d and f have been signed to work with d and f schools and I've been successful in schools and I've been successful in helping helping with the help of the teachers and the with the help of the teachers and the staff at these schools staff at these schools to turn those schools around I'm best to turn those schools around I'm best qualified qualified for this role because I am an for this role because I am an instructional leader instructional leader who understands curriculum and who understands curriculum and instruction I worked in toddling schools instruction I worked in toddling schools as I said earlier to turn those schools as I said earlier to turn those schools around around at western back in 2004 along with some at western back in 2004 along with some wonderful teachers wonderful teachers we were able to move that school from f we were able to move that school from f to a b to a b in just one year my various experience in just one year my various experience from the north side to lawrence lakes to from the north side to lawrence lakes to century located century located appalachia to west side carolyn brevard appalachia to west side carolyn brevard and to south side bond and wesson has and to south side bond and wesson has given me an insight given me an insight to what our school district needs my to what our school district needs my experience at the district level experience at the district level and most recently my boots on the ground and most recently my boots on the ground in every in every school that I have worked at bond school that I have worked at bond astoria park springwood astoria park springwood appalachia hartsfield appalachia hartsfield riley and connelly elementary working riley and connelly elementary working with those schools with those schools to try to improve their school grade was to try to improve their school grade was boots on the ground boots on the ground i got to see up close and personal the i got to see up close and personal the needs of those needs of those schools and what we were able to do we schools and what we were able to do we were able to successfully turn were able to successfully turn four five of those seven schools around four five of those seven schools around using research-based programs using research-based programs but most of our making students believe but most of our making students believe in themselves in themselves that's what's the match it wasn't that's what's the match it wasn't anything magic we had the same students anything magic we had the same students at western at western that were there prior to the year when that were there prior to the year when they got the l but we instilled a sense they got the l but we instilled a sense of pride in those students of pride in those students we made them believe that they could do we made them believe that they could do it and they did they rose to the it and they did they rose to the occasion occasion as I said one of my earlier in another as I said one of my earlier in another interview one of my favorite interview one of my favorite quotes is no one rises to low quotes is no one rises to low expectation so we have to set the bar expectation so we have to set the bar higher higher and that's what I have done in every and that's what I have done in every place that I have been in is setting place that I have been in is setting about half of myself about half of myself for my staff and my students and they for my staff and my students and they have always rose to the occasion have always rose to the occasion so as an instructional leader I know so as an instructional leader I know that I have the skills to turn this that I have the skills to turn this around around as a person who leads with their heart as a person who leads with their heart and compassion I have the compassion and compassion I have the compassion to turn this district around I will to turn this district around I will listen listen and then I will put a planet action in and then I will put a planet action in and we will move and we will move this district to where it needs to be this district to where it needs to be for all of our students all 34 000 of for all of our students all 34 000 of our students our students and all of our teachers and our staff and all of our teachers and our staff and our parents and our parents we're living in unprecedented times that we're living in unprecedented times that calls for leadership calls for leadership I'm the person I have those leadership I'm the person I have those leadership skills that will help us skills that will help us to move our schools to where it needs to to move our schools to where it needs to be together we rise with be together we rise with the Hightower in the Hightower team.

the Hightower in the Hightower team.

thank you very much ms Washington we thank you very much ms Washington we also have also have another candidate who is just joining us another candidate who is just joining us via Zoom via Zoom who is uh Rocky Hanna he is the who is uh Rocky Hanna he is the incumbent incumbent superintendent of uh the Leon County superintendent of uh the Leon County school district and uh mr Hanna so good school district and uh mr Hanna so good to see you sir thank you for joining us to see you sir thank you for joining us and and you come at exactly the right time we're you come at exactly the right time we're giving everyone an opportunity giving everyone an opportunity to provide a little bit of background to provide a little bit of background some introductory remarks for the some introductory remarks for the benefit of folks who benefit of folks who maybe do not know you personally and maybe do not know you personally and also if you could talk also if you could talk a little bit about how that background a little bit about how that background informs informs your desire to continue on in the role your desire to continue on in the role of superintendent of superintendent of Leon County schools go right ahead of Leon County schools go right ahead sir well first off sir well first off apologize to being late to the party i apologize to being late to the party i was out visiting schools this morning was out visiting schools this morning I've I've been to 40 of our 45 schools checking on been to 40 of our 45 schools checking on how our reopening was going and how our reopening was going and all in all very very pleased but uh it's all in all very very pleased but uh it's been a heavy lift been a heavy lift for our for our administrators and our for our for our administrators and our teachers but we're off and running i teachers but we're off and running i know there were some know there were some naysayers in the community about whether naysayers in the community about whether or not we should reopen schools but i or not we should reopen schools but i think it was absolutely the right thing think it was absolutely the right thing to do and to do and we're moving forward so as far as me we're moving forward so as far as me personally born and raised in personally born and raised in Tallahassee a lifelong resident Tallahassee a lifelong resident of Leon County I'm a product of our of Leon County I'm a product of our public schools public schools started my career back in 1988 as a hall started my career back in 1988 as a hall monitor at Leon high school monitor at Leon high school I then moved over to Godby high school I then moved over to Godby high school where one of the candidates in this race where one of the candidates in this race was a student at Godby when I was a was a student at Godby when I was a teacher there taught a teacher there taught a American history and government and American history and government and economics at Godby economics at Godby uh kind of cut my teeth with miss uh kind of cut my teeth with miss Washington and learned a lot as a as a Washington and learned a lot as a as a classroom teacher I left there I went to classroom teacher I left there I went to Lincoln high school I ran a program for Lincoln high school I ran a program for kids that were at risk of kids that were at risk of dropping out of school because of dropping out of school because of substance abuse issues or truancy substance abuse issues or truancy and then as my wife said I turned to the and then as my wife said I turned to the dark side and left the classroom and dark side and left the classroom and became a school administrator became a school administrator I was a dean of students for four years I was a dean of students for four years an assistant principal had the honor of an assistant principal had the honor of serving as principal of my alma mater serving as principal of my alma mater uh Leon high school from 2005 to 2012 uh Leon high school from 2005 to 2012 was a district administrator and then in was a district administrator and then in 2016 2016 at the end of my career I have been uh at the end of my career I have been uh bestowed the honor of serving as bestowed the honor of serving as superintendent of schools so superintendent of schools so it's been an amazing career a wonderful it's been an amazing career a wonderful journey you couldn't have not have journey you couldn't have not have written a better story to go from a hall written a better story to go from a hall monitor or superintendent monitor or superintendent um again I'm just so proud and honored um again I'm just so proud and honored to serve this community my wife's a to serve this community my wife's a middle school science teacher uh and middle school science teacher uh and just just just love love kids and and love trying just love love kids and and love trying to to help them figure out what this next step help them figure out what this next step of their life is well mr Hanna since you name check ms well mr Hanna since you name check ms Washington Washington we'll throw the next question to her and we'll throw the next question to her and i'd like uh i'd like uh each of you to kind of respond to this each of you to kind of respond to this if you could you know state educational if you could you know state educational officials as as you mentioned Rocky the officials as as you mentioned Rocky the that COVID situation is kind of the that COVID situation is kind of the preeminent concern right now preeminent concern right now not only in the Leon district but across not only in the Leon district but across the entire state the entire nation the entire state the entire nation when it comes to our schools but here in when it comes to our schools but here in Florida some Florida some state education folks said voice some state education folks said voice some concerns this summer about concerns this summer about achievement gaps widening if all achievement gaps widening if all students students had to continue with distance learning had to continue with distance learning this year now with roughly this year now with roughly half of our district opting to take half of our district opting to take classes online classes online what are your ideas miss Washington what are your ideas miss Washington starting with you for monitoring and starting with you for monitoring and preventing preventing that uh achievement gap that the state that uh achievement gap that the state folks were worried about folks were worried about well um as I said in previous um well um as I said in previous um forms I would have gotten a database i forms I would have gotten a database i would have got a database from whom am i would have got a database from whom am i speaking with whether it's just speaking with whether it's just the child the parent um the mom the dad the child the parent um the mom the dad who they're living with is there's a who they're living with is there's a successful communication with this uh successful communication with this uh student um what's their attendance um student um what's their attendance um what's their previous testing look like what's their previous testing look like their overall their overall um students in their holistic approach um students in their holistic approach in in our school system um I would have took our school system um I would have took that that and see if they were digital or in class and see if they were digital or in class with this achievement gap we've got to with this achievement gap we've got to make sure make sure all gaps are closed we shouldn't even be all gaps are closed we shouldn't even be in the gaps right now in the gaps right now but I was also provided paper packets but I was also provided paper packets as well as digital my high school as well as digital my high school students would got digital students would got digital my elementary would have got packets for my elementary would have got packets for those who would not respond and I've those who would not respond and I've been concerned about been concerned about because they are uh at risk learning because they are uh at risk learning i would had to go visit home visits if i would had to go visit home visits if possible possible i would have to get my staff and say hey i would have to get my staff and say hey we cannot leave nobody behind so we cannot leave nobody behind so if must let's go check out the homes if if must let's go check out the homes if we're not uh we're not uh they're not attendants if they're not they're not attendants if they're not aware exactly how to put a computer aware exactly how to put a computer together together if they're not knowledgeable what's if they're not knowledgeable what's going on all over all because going on all over all because right now we're at a standstill we are right now we're at a standstill we are at a standstill at a standstill we're at a new foundation in my eyesight we're at a new foundation in my eyesight and and i would take advantage of sort of i would take advantage of sort of rerouting things rerouting things but also elevating them as well because rerouting things but also elevating them as well because but also elevating them as well because we're at a standstill we're at a standstill and there's going to be some gaps and there's going to be some gaps there's going to be some people left there's going to be some people left behind there's going to be some behind there's going to be some frustrations frustrations as we see already and there's going to as we see already and there's going to be um be um very emotions come as we've seen already very emotions come as we've seen already you know how you know how high emotions so with seeing that i high emotions so with seeing that i would have probably did some would have probably did some face-to-face visits as well face-to-face visits as well um whether they're digital or at home um whether they're digital or at home okay thank you miss Washington uh Dr.

okay thank you miss Washington uh Dr.

Hightower Hightower your thoughts there again on adDr.essing your thoughts there again on adDr.essing that achievement gap especially since that achievement gap especially since some some uh between some of the schools in the uh between some of the schools in the more affluent parts of the County more affluent parts of the County and then some of the title one schools and then some of the title one schools where there was already a problem where there was already a problem thank you as you said the title was thank you as you said the title was there were always a problem and having there were always a problem and having our students out of school since our students out of school since march has created even more of a gap march has created even more of a gap with uh with our students with uh with our students first of all I think we have to assess first of all I think we have to assess where the students are we have to have a where the students are we have to have a formal assessment to know what our formal assessment to know what our students are so we can close those gaps students are so we can close those gaps uh one of the things that I would have uh one of the things that I would have done is sent books home by all of our done is sent books home by all of our students so they would have the students so they would have the textbooks at home as the teachers textbooks at home as the teachers teaching teaching they would have the textbook I'm they would have the textbook I'm understanding from some of us some of understanding from some of us some of our schools that not all of our schools our schools that not all of our schools but I think all of us teachers students but I think all of us teachers students need the books at home need the books at home so they could um they could also keep up so they could um they could also keep up with teachers with teachers the other thing I would like to do is the other thing I would like to do is also make sure that we are recording the also make sure that we are recording the lessons lessons so that our students need the repetition so that our students need the repetition especially some of our esc students and especially some of our esc students and our students who are our students who are falling behind if we record those falling behind if we record those lessons then parents can go back and lessons then parents can go back and look at that at a later time so they can look at that at a later time so they can get the repetition get the repetition get more and more practice with that get more and more practice with that another thing we could do another thing we could do is also making sure we're having hubs is also making sure we're having hubs using our community using our community our community resources our churches our our community resources our churches our community centers community centers so we're having parts in those so we're having parts in those communities where students can still communities where students can still social distance social distance but we can employ teachers after school but we can employ teachers after school just like we did when the school is just like we did when the school is running to close that achievement gap we running to close that achievement gap we have after head after school programs have after head after school programs and I'm not sure whether the 21st and I'm not sure whether the 21st century program still exists century program still exists but as a principal in a title one school but as a principal in a title one school prior to having the 21st century prior to having the 21st century we used our federal title one dollars to we used our federal title one dollars to have an after-school program a Saturday have an after-school program a Saturday school school i think because where we are this is the i think because where we are this is the new normal we still must provide those new normal we still must provide those opportunities and all of our students to opportunities and all of our students to close that achievement gap whether it's close that achievement gap whether it's Saturday school Saturday school after school and where teachers can go after school and where teachers can go into the community and have those small into the community and have those small at churches at the community centers or at churches at the community centers or even at our own site of the school site even at our own site of the school site where they're doing virtual where they're doing virtual after school program just like we're after school program just like we're doing at school and working with those doing at school and working with those small groups small groups of students to make sure we're closing of students to make sure we're closing that achievement gap the one thing that that achievement gap the one thing that i keep hearing and I know we've had i keep hearing and I know we've had professional development professional development that teachers are still not feeling as that teachers are still not feeling as good as they need to about the good as they need to about the curriculum it's new curriculum it's new as with everything when it's new but as with everything when it's new but having having targeted professional development so targeted professional development so that teachers can feel good about the that teachers can feel good about the material they're giving our students material they're giving our students so that's another piece that we need to so that's another piece that we need to really hone in on I heard that as late really hone in on I heard that as late as last night from a teacher who I spoke as last night from a teacher who I spoke with with they're still professional development they're still professional development is to keep making sure that our teachers is to keep making sure that our teachers our teachers are feeling good about what our teachers are feeling good about what they're doing because this was quick and they're doing because this was quick and it was new for us it was new for us the other thing that we need to make the other thing that we need to make sure that we're doing is that we're sure that we're doing is that we're listening to our teachers to our stands listening to our teachers to our stands parents to our chilDr.en parents to our chilDr.en and making those adjustments so that and making those adjustments so that they're comfortable I think they're comfortable I think the one thing I hear the district said the one thing I hear the district said having passion and compassion having passion and compassion we must have compassion and passion but we must have compassion and passion but we must also we must also make sure that and when we list when we make sure that and when we list when we hear that we make those changes so that hear that we make those changes so that we can we can make teachers feel more comfortable make teachers feel more comfortable we're already uptight because where we we're already uptight because where we are are and so it's a little more more and so it's a little more more apprehensive being in the classroom apprehensive being in the classroom but when we can make teachers feel that but when we can make teachers feel that they're being listened to and they're they're being listened to and they're heard heard then it makes them feel roman likes and then it makes them feel roman likes and then it trickles down to the student then it trickles down to the student so those are just something progress so those are just something progress monitoring assessing where we are the monitoring assessing where we are the additional health after school whether additional health after school whether it's virtual it's virtual or at the in the community and parts of or at the in the community and parts of some things that we can do some things that we can do also as I said taping the lessons so if also as I said taping the lessons so if i come home at night I can go back and i come home at night I can go back and go but with my child those are things go but with my child those are things that I would that I would like to see happen okay thank you uh Dr.

like to see happen okay thank you uh Dr.

Hightower uh mr Hanna your Hightower uh mr Hanna your your solution to the gap moving forward your solution to the gap moving forward what do we do what do we do well on august the 31st we basically well on august the 31st we basically propped up propped up two independent school systems of 15 000 two independent school systems of 15 000 students running simultaneously where we students running simultaneously where we had 15 had 15 000 students in our schools and 000 students in our schools and approximately 15 000 approximately 15 000 students or half of our student students or half of our student population at home and we brought the population at home and we brought the classroom to them classroom to them over the course of the summer we handed over the course of the summer we handed out uh out uh just short of 9 000 desktops along with just short of 9 000 desktops along with dongles wireless converters and webcams dongles wireless converters and webcams for our students who are at home in for our students who are at home in digital academy digital academy we've also shipped around and passed out we've also shipped around and passed out thousands of thousands of mobile devices for kids that are in mobile devices for kids that are in brick and mortar in case they have to brick and mortar in case they have to quarantine that they can quarantine that they can easily transition back and forth in and easily transition back and forth in and out of the classroom out of the classroom three things that we have done to help three things that we have done to help with this one we created an intervention with this one we created an intervention team team of individuals that work alongside of of individuals that work alongside of the school social the school social social worker that is going out and social worker that is going out and knocking on doors knocking on doors and finding kids that are have not and finding kids that are have not engaged engaged since the start of the school year since the start of the school year working to find them uh working to find them uh with the social worker and that with the social worker and that intervention team the next thing we did intervention team the next thing we did is we set up we're setting up a is we set up we're setting up a after hours tutorial tutoring folks that after hours tutorial tutoring folks that kids can call that need assistance with kids can call that need assistance with core subjects english math science and core subjects english math science and social studies and then finally social studies and then finally we set up a parent academy where parents we set up a parent academy where parents can learn to navigate the technology can learn to navigate the technology that we're using that we're using uh with our new learning management uh with our new learning management system and so system and so those folks those parents can get those folks those parents can get tutorials to help them navigate tutorials to help them navigate their role in being at home with their their role in being at home with their child that's this learning child that's this learning this has been a a heavy lift on this has been a a heavy lift on our district administrators on our our district administrators on our principals and especially on our on our principals and especially on our on our teachers like I said I've visited teachers like I said I've visited probably 100 classrooms in the last probably 100 classrooms in the last sever last three weeks now and our sever last three weeks now and our teachers are doing amazing work teachers are doing amazing work it was a lot for them to learn that's it was a lot for them to learn that's why we gave them an extra week why we gave them an extra week of professional development and shifted of professional development and shifted our school calendar from 180 to 175 days our school calendar from 180 to 175 days so they would have two weeks so they would have two weeks honestly they they needed more than that honestly they they needed more than that and they're still learning but every day and they're still learning but every day you can see it they're getting better you can see it they're getting better and better and better and our chilDr.en and better and better and our chilDr.en are getting better at navigating are getting better at navigating uh the technology that's required as uh the technology that's required as well the well the uh a lot of these teacher lessons uh a lot of these teacher lessons are taped so if a kid cannot be there in are taped so if a kid cannot be there in real time they can go back on in a later real time they can go back on in a later time and click on and watch time and click on and watch the lesson for for that school day the lesson for for that school day but I am I am concerned we're missing a but I am I am concerned we're missing a number of elementary number of elementary of elementary students especially at our of elementary students especially at our at our title one at our title one schools uh we know this uh schools uh we know this uh virus has had an adverse impact on the virus has had an adverse impact on the african-american community and there are african-american community and there are a lot of people a lot of people uh there that are fearful that are uh there that are fearful that are scared they don't feel comfortable going scared they don't feel comfortable going back to school and that's why we came up back to school and that's why we came up with this plan with this plan to give parents and families choices and to give parents and families choices and if you were good in a good place and you if you were good in a good place and you felt okay felt okay then by all means you want your child then by all means you want your child back in a brick and mortar school but if back in a brick and mortar school but if you're not you're not if something's going on or maybe you if something's going on or maybe you have an older relative living at home have an older relative living at home we would bring the classroom to them and we would bring the classroom to them and we're still working through some of the we're still working through some of the kinks but I'm going to be honest with kinks but I'm going to be honest with you you uh mr Flanigan we are positioned in a uh mr Flanigan we are positioned in a much better place than even I had much better place than even I had expected given expected given the rapid turnaround time we had uh from the rapid turnaround time we had uh from the from the end of the from the end of from the end of last year we know our from the end of last year we know our our devices are on our devices are on are on the way they're now starting to are on the way they're now starting to arrive here in the next several weeks arrive here in the next several weeks which is very exciting but in the which is very exciting but in the meantime meantime uh you know we didn't hold a pity party uh you know we didn't hold a pity party we handed out desktops and did the best we handed out desktops and did the best we could to adjust we could to adjust and I'm proud of the efforts that we've and I'm proud of the efforts that we've made but we're going to continue to use made but we're going to continue to use those intervention teams those intervention teams the after school tutorials for kids that the after school tutorials for kids that are needing help are needing help and then those parent academies to and then those parent academies to ensure our parents are in a good place ensure our parents are in a good place and and and can help with their chilDr.en at home and can help with their chilDr.en at home the three contenders for the Leon County the three contenders for the Leon County school superintendent's job we just school superintendent's job we just heard from the heard from the incumbent Rocky Hanna the challengers incumbent Rocky Hanna the challengers Keisha Washington and Dr.

Pam Keisha Washington and Dr.

Pam Hightower here with us on our political Hightower here with us on our political Perspectives Perspectives both on air and online some dates to both on air and online some dates to keep in mind keep in mind for the upcoming general election in for the upcoming general election in Leon County Leon County vote by mail ballots will start going vote by mail ballots will start going out September out September 24th to those voters who've requested 24th to those voters who've requested them them the deadline for voter registration is the deadline for voter registration is October 5th October 5th early voting will kick off on October early voting will kick off on October 19th 19th and early voting locations are being and early voting locations are being posted on the supervisor of elections posted on the supervisor of elections website website general election day of course is general election day of course is Tuesday November 3rd Tuesday November 3rd and more than half of people during the and more than half of people during the primary primary opted to go by vote by mail opted to go by vote by mail and Mark Earley who was our election and Mark Earley who was our election supervisor supervisor uh informs us that went really really uh informs us that went really really well he's hoping for a repeat of that well he's hoping for a repeat of that as we head towards the general election as we head towards the general election well before we kind of depart from the well before we kind of depart from the COVID 19 situation though COVID 19 situation though i have to ask all three of you what you i have to ask all three of you what you consider to be consider to be kind of the trip wire in the event and kind of the trip wire in the event and we hope this is we hope this is not how things are going to turn out but not how things are going to turn out but the event that the event that you combine covet 19 you combine covet 19 with perhaps a worse than usual flu with perhaps a worse than usual flu season season and you have a lot of sick kids and you have a lot of sick kids and sick staff and sick teachers to deal and sick staff and sick teachers to deal with with at what point do you say okay we are at what point do you say okay we are going to going to at least temporarily suspend in-person at least temporarily suspend in-person classrooms classrooms we're going full digital let's ask the we're going full digital let's ask the incumbent first incumbent first what is your uh I guess tripwire what is your uh I guess tripwire for that Rocky at what point do you say for that Rocky at what point do you say okay we're gonna have to back off for a okay we're gonna have to back off for a bit bit well I think the governor and the well I think the governor and the commissioner have made it very clear commissioner have made it very clear that that movie first that we must open that that movie first that we must open our brick and mortar schools or face our brick and mortar schools or face severe financial consequences severe financial consequences and second moving forward that any and second moving forward that any adjustments we may adjustments we may mean we make need to be surgical and not mean we make need to be surgical and not sweeping and those are the words by sweeping and those are the words by commissioner corcoran meaning commissioner corcoran meaning that if we need to go in and shut down a that if we need to go in and shut down a class for class for a couple of weeks that we have the a couple of weeks that we have the ability to do that ability to do that I don't see us in full retreat again we I don't see us in full retreat again we are but we are closely monitoring are but we are closely monitoring and we are positioned well that's why we and we are positioned well that's why we put in all the hard work on the front put in all the hard work on the front end end so if kids have to quarantine or have to so if kids have to quarantine or have to go home that they can move home take go home that they can move home take their device home and then when their device home and then when when the when this when the when the when this when the things are better than they can just things are better than they can just simply come back in but the commissioner simply come back in but the commissioner the governor made it the governor made it clear that they want to do uh uh clear that they want to do uh uh individual strikes and not sweeping individual strikes and not sweeping shutting down schools they're we have to shutting down schools they're we have to get uh permission from them in order to get uh permission from them in order to do that we report to them every day we do that we report to them every day we are monitoring every single day are monitoring every single day kids at test positive employees at test kids at test positive employees at test positive working hand in hand with the positive working hand in hand with the Leon County health department Leon County health department we have a dashboard on our website uh we have a dashboard on our website uh LeonCountyschools.net on of of how we're LeonCountyschools.net on of of how we're trending trending we've had kids quarantine coming in and we've had kids quarantine coming in and out of quarantine but this is what we out of quarantine but this is what we expected quite honestly expected quite honestly um I would be surprised if we um I would be surprised if we went back into full retreat I think went back into full retreat I think we've we've shown over the last uh now we've we've shown over the last uh now almost three weeks uh that we can almost three weeks uh that we can withstand uh business virus and withstand uh business virus and push back and fight back but we know as push back and fight back but we know as uh employees and children uh employees and children are coming in and out that we we're are coming in and out that we we're gonna have to monitor those situations gonna have to monitor those situations and then if we need again to shut up and then if we need again to shut up classroom or a school down for two weeks classroom or a school down for two weeks then we're positioned to do that but i then we're positioned to do that but i do not see our district going back do not see our district going back uh running back home again I just don't uh running back home again I just don't see that okay see that okay Dr.

Hightower your thoughts on that we're going to have to follow the advice we're going to have to follow the advice of the CDC guidelines of the CDC guidelines and the CDC guidelines I i if they get and the CDC guidelines I i if they get high high then I would be looking to the then I would be looking to the scientists into the CDC to see what we scientists into the CDC to see what we need to do need to do because I think safety is first I know because I think safety is first I know what the governor has said what the governor has said and I know that as a superintendent we and I know that as a superintendent we are responsible for those persons that are responsible for those persons that in our district and I would do what is in our district and I would do what is best for the students best for the students and the families in Leon County along and the families in Leon County along with the guidelines with the guidelines from the CDC if it gets up high from the CDC if it gets up high rather than looking at a surgical porch rather than looking at a surgical porch and we have to retreat back to home and we have to retreat back to home then that's what we would do in order to then that's what we would do in order to ensure that our families our students ensure that our families our students and the citizens of this district are and the citizens of this district are safe your approach safe your approach ms Washington your thoughts um if the ms Washington your thoughts um if the number should increase and it'd be number should increase and it'd be detrimental detrimental um I would have to go case-by-case basis um I would have to go case-by-case basis but I would uh but I would uh have everyone home and if I could get have everyone home and if I could get the maximum of five students because i the maximum of five students because i understand that parents work understand that parents work and most likely shut down the high and most likely shut down the high school to use those school to use those uh classrooms as division for those five uh classrooms as division for those five students students as well um because what we have one of as well um because what we have one of the cases is parents are working the cases is parents are working um you might have two of them that may um you might have two of them that may be a doctor or one may work at the be a doctor or one may work at the prison prison so they have to go to work and in that so they have to go to work and in that case I would have to have somebody case I would have to have somebody there but like I say at the max um five there but like I say at the max um five students per students per teacher and it would definitely be case teacher and it would definitely be case by case basis by case basis and like I say safety first safety is and like I say safety first safety is always first always first very good another question that gets us very good another question that gets us kind of away from the coven situation kind of away from the coven situation although it is connected with that although it is connected with that because let's face it because let's face it anything having to do with money is anything having to do with money is being being impacted by the coronavirus situation impacted by the coronavirus situation at the moment we just heard from the at the moment we just heard from the latest revenue estimating conference latest revenue estimating conference at the state of Florida that uh our at the state of Florida that uh our revenues are going to be down somewhere revenues are going to be down somewhere around 2.7 billion dollars for the next around 2.7 billion dollars for the next fiscal year they're already fiscal year they're already Dr.awing back for the current fiscal year Dr.awing back for the current fiscal year even as those tax revenues decline we even as those tax revenues decline we are likely to also see some pullback are likely to also see some pullback when it comes to when it comes to support coming from local property tax support coming from local property tax revenues although revenues although there's a lot of people buying houses there's a lot of people buying houses right now which is i right now which is i i guess bargain hunters are out there in i guess bargain hunters are out there in abundance looking for some deals abundance looking for some deals but still it's going to fall back onto but still it's going to fall back onto the school district when it comes to the the school district when it comes to the amount of money that is available amount of money that is available for such things as capital for such things as capital outlay for schools that need repair outlay for schools that need repair or expansion or whatever we just came or expansion or whatever we just came off of a big off of a big project at the richards high school but project at the richards high school but you know what other ones are going to be you know what other ones are going to be needed to be done and where does that needed to be done and where does that money come from so money come from so let's let's switch it around Dr.

let's let's switch it around Dr.

Hightower starting with you Hightower starting with you what are some capital outlay projects what are some capital outlay projects that you that you might be looking at if you are elected might be looking at if you are elected superintendent superintendent number one and number two where does the number one and number two where does the money come from money come from i think listen to the last school board i think listen to the last school board member last school but meeting i member last school but meeting i understood that there were no current understood that there were no current projects that were out there to be projects that were out there to be for capital outlay but now if we're in a for capital outlay but now if we're in a crisis and covet raises his ugly head crisis and covet raises his ugly head and we lose the money funds that we have and we lose the money funds that we have to to lose funds then we would have to lose funds then we would have to prioritize we would have to look at prioritize we would have to look at those things we would have to analyze those things we would have to analyze that budget that budget prioritize those things that are needed prioritize those things that are needed if it's a if a heating unit goes out we if it's a if a heating unit goes out we know we have to have heat and air know we have to have heat and air conditioning in the school so those conditioning in the school so those things would have to be taken care of things would have to be taken care of but such things as painting replacing but such things as painting replacing carpet or some of those things that we carpet or some of those things that we could put off could put off we would have to prioritize those and we would have to prioritize those and work with our school board to make sure work with our school board to make sure that we're meeting those needs to the that we're meeting those needs to the school school looking at first the things that for looking at first the things that for safety making sure that those things safety making sure that those things are first we may have to go back and are first we may have to go back and look at our reserve look at our reserve we may have to pull from some of our we may have to pull from some of our reserve money we have to look at all of reserve money we have to look at all of our federal allocations making sure that our federal allocations making sure that we're using all of those we're using all of those in the right way making sure that if we in the right way making sure that if we need to need to ask uh I know the County got care money ask uh I know the County got care money if we need money from if we need money from that to help us with some of these that to help us with some of these problems that we're having in school problems that we're having in school tapping can take every resource that we tapping can take every resource that we can can can but I think the first thing is can but I think the first thing is looking at our budget we are we're looking at our budget we are we're allocating funds prioritizing our needs allocating funds prioritizing our needs and putting those things on hold that and putting those things on hold that can wait except for those safe to the can wait except for those safe to the life situation that we must take care of life situation that we must take care of okay ms Washington uh construction okay ms Washington uh construction improvements repair maintenance that improvements repair maintenance that kind of thing kind of thing what do you do with that I'm going to what do you do with that I'm going to pick it back a little bit off pick it back a little bit off alpha Dr.

Hightower as far as the care um alpha Dr.

Hightower as far as the care um if we need assistance we're going to if we need assistance we're going to have to ask the state and have to ask the state and ask for federal funds as well because in ask for federal funds as well because in a dire situation a dire situation I'm hoping that would they they would I'm hoping that would they they would just some would say common sense and just some would say common sense and someone just be someone just be knowledgeable with the past history that knowledgeable with the past history that they would give it to us they would give it to us however um being from orlando we're not however um being from orlando we're not actually being from orlando but working actually being from orlando but working with orlando with orlando and just learning when there's and just learning when there's construction there's money for school construction there's money for school so as long as fsu is building and so as long as fsu is building and there's building around there's building around there is money for schools there's money there is money for schools there's money it's just how it's allocated it's just how it's allocated and how it's been brought into the and how it's been brought into the school system and making sure school system and making sure that it's uh allocated properly that it's uh allocated properly and throughout the district um first and throughout the district um first curve curve first come first basis is not the answer first come first basis is not the answer it's who needs it first and also with it's who needs it first and also with records I know they records I know they have tapped in within uh stakeholders so have tapped in within uh stakeholders so we can ask our stakeholders of sTCC we can ask our stakeholders of sTCC um also for funding they've had uh um also for funding they've had uh help with doing so in their school so help with doing so in their school so it's not that we it's not that we don't have it it's just the process of don't have it it's just the process of getting it for our schools getting it for our schools and we wound up with you on that and we wound up with you on that question uh mr Hanna put on your question uh mr Hanna put on your builder's hat for a sec builder's hat for a sec if I if I will if I might real quick if I if I will if I might real quick going back to the final question I don't going back to the final question I don't want want people to think that we're not following people to think that we're not following CDC guidelines we've said that from the CDC guidelines we've said that from the very beginning very beginning working with the Department of Health we working with the Department of Health we are following and inviting my CDC are following and inviting my CDC guidelines guidelines so I don't want people to get the so I don't want people to get the misconception that we're not in we've misconception that we're not in we've been adjusting to those guidelines been adjusting to those guidelines from day from day one back in last march from day from day one back in last march to the issue of construction I am very to the issue of construction I am very proud proud of the work we've done both the richards of the work we've done both the richards high school and fairview middle school high school and fairview middle school that was a promise I made to the that was a promise I made to the residents in that part of our community residents in that part of our community was to completely transform those was to completely transform those campuses and I'm very proud of the work campuses and I'm very proud of the work that we will complete there that we will complete there uh next summer if you haven't been on uh next summer if you haven't been on those campuses I would encourage you to those campuses I would encourage you to do so do so although I'm a registered democrat I'm a although I'm a registered democrat I'm a lifelong democrat since I registered to lifelong democrat since I registered to vote when vote when many many years ago my uh physical many many years ago my uh physical responsibility tendencies lean a little responsibility tendencies lean a little a little to the right I'm very a little to the right I'm very physically conservative I'm proud of the physically conservative I'm proud of the fact that we've added two million fact that we've added two million dollars to dollars to our emergency reserve I reduced capital our emergency reserve I reduced capital debt by debt by over 60 million dollars in the last in over 60 million dollars in the last in the last four years the last four years so we're in a good position financially so we're in a good position financially to withstand to withstand uh somewhat of a hit financially because uh somewhat of a hit financially because to your point we know it's coming we to your point we know it's coming we know sales tax revenues are down know sales tax revenues are down we used last april and when the governor we used last april and when the governor issued a stay at home order as a issued a stay at home order as a as a botTom as a botTom number it wasn't as a botTom as a botTom number it wasn't as bad as we had as predicted I think as bad as we had as predicted I think we're about we're about half a million dollars down for that half a million dollars down for that month but we know we're going to need to month but we know we're going to need to make to make adjustments we are going to make to make adjustments we are going to finish those projects at Rickards in finish those projects at Rickards in fairview fairview and then kind of see what uh what and then kind of see what uh what revenues we bring in because we know not revenues we bring in because we know not only do we receive only do we receive lcif funds at 1.5 mills we also have a lcif funds at 1.5 mills we also have a local local half penny sales tax we generate about half penny sales tax we generate about 22 million dollars a year 22 million dollars a year but we also we have accounted for a but we also we have accounted for a reduction of those funds moving forward reduction of those funds moving forward and then we just need to to prioritize and then we just need to to prioritize but I'm proud of the work we've done at but I'm proud of the work we've done at those schools without having to borrow those schools without having to borrow any new money any new money um and then us to be able to reduce um and then us to be able to reduce capital debt right now unless things capital debt right now unless things really hit the tank really hit the tank i have a plan in place for Leon County i have a plan in place for Leon County schools to be completely debt free schools to be completely debt free by uh 2028 and so we're on course to do by uh 2028 and so we're on course to do that that uh notwithstanding uh you know just a uh notwithstanding uh you know just a severe financial collapse severe financial collapse beyond bricks and mortar of course we beyond bricks and mortar of course we got got bone and blood especially when it comes bone and blood especially when it comes to teachers to teachers and ahead of this year there was some and ahead of this year there was some pretty unhappy folks pretty unhappy folks with the local teachers union when they with the local teachers union when they surveyed their members and found surveyed their members and found that many were afraid to go back into that many were afraid to go back into the classroom the classroom uh some even threatened to quit there uh some even threatened to quit there has been some churn has been some churn from what we understand do we have from what we understand do we have enough teachers going forward and how do enough teachers going forward and how do you you recruit new teachers to fill vacant recruit new teachers to fill vacant positions positions when the pipeline coming down from the when the pipeline coming down from the institutions of higher learning are also institutions of higher learning are also a bit problematic a bit problematic uh Dr.

Hightower let's throw that to you uh Dr.

Hightower let's throw that to you first and then we'll go around the first and then we'll go around the around the bend here oh you'll have to take off mute please i just listened to the school board i just listened to the school board meeting I know that we've had about 30 meeting I know that we've had about 30 some teachers some teachers that have uh resigned or taken leave that have uh resigned or taken leave which is I know has impacted our school which is I know has impacted our school district district and then we also last year Florida and then we also last year Florida started with 2 000 teachers started with 2 000 teachers last last year and I'm sure even more last last year and I'm sure even more this year with the pandemic that we are this year with the pandemic that we are facing facing uh what I would do is look at what I uh what I would do is look at what I would love to do would love to do as a superintendent is start a teacher as a superintendent is start a teacher education program at all of our high education program at all of our high schools schools so that we start recruiting teachers at so that we start recruiting teachers at an early age and they graduate from high an early age and they graduate from high school with an aaa degree school with an aaa degree and go on to college and then come back and go on to college and then come back and work in our district that's one and work in our district that's one program I would like to put on that's a program I would like to put on that's a long term program long term program uh right now we're going to have to go uh right now we're going to have to go back and look at those persons who are back and look at those persons who are graduating graduating and from from our local colleges we have and from from our local colleges we have three universities here we have flagler three universities here we have flagler fsu and famu those students who are fsu and famu those students who are graduating graduating making sure that we are recruiting making sure that we are recruiting heavily recruiting those students heavily recruiting those students because the whole state the whole because the whole state the whole country is looking for teachers right country is looking for teachers right now because of the pending now because of the pending so we're going to have to do something so we're going to have to do something heavy to make sure that we're out heavy to make sure that we're out recruiting those teachers um recruiting those teachers um that we have and then we've got to make that we have and then we've got to make sure we retain the ones that we have sure we retain the ones that we have that's critical um with the 39 that that's critical um with the 39 that we've lost we've lost we need to set up training programs we need to set up training programs across for our teachers to make sure across for our teachers to make sure that that they're getting the resources the they're getting the resources the professional development that they have professional development that they have that they need that they need also salary is another thing that we've also salary is another thing that we've got to look at our salaries how we're got to look at our salaries how we're going to I know the governor has given going to I know the governor has given money money for the 45 47 5 at the beginning for the 45 47 5 at the beginning i don't know how that's going to be i don't know how that's going to be impacted with the other teachers i impacted with the other teachers i listen to the school board and I know listen to the school board and I know that that there's a plan in place for that but there's a plan in place for that but that's another thing we've got to look that's another thing we've got to look at because that's at the beginning step at because that's at the beginning step how do we make sure that all of our how do we make sure that all of our teachers are compensated for teachers are compensated for the other thing that I really um that i the other thing that I really um that i hear a lot teachers are concerned about hear a lot teachers are concerned about the health insurance the health insurance we've got to make sure that we can do we've got to make sure that we can do something to make sure that we all set something to make sure that we all set the cost of health insurance the cost of health insurance so they're telling me that the health so they're telling me that the health insurance is like getting a raise insurance is like getting a raise because the health insurance cost and so because the health insurance cost and so much so those are some things that i much so those are some things that i have heard from teachers that we could have heard from teachers that we could do some of those things we may be able do some of those things we may be able to to retain more of our teachers and then retain more of our teachers and then we've got to do more to recruit teachers we've got to do more to recruit teachers as a title one director when I was tired as a title one director when I was tired of one director I did a title one of one director I did a title one recruitment fair just for title recruitment fair just for title schools because as a title one principal schools because as a title one principal it was really hard to get teachers it was really hard to get teachers so before the year ended we did a title so before the year ended we did a title one week on recruitment fair in may one week on recruitment fair in may so that our tolerant teachers principals so that our tolerant teachers principals could go out before this year ended to could go out before this year ended to Florida State to flaglers to other Florida State to flaglers to other places places we sent it out nationwide and we had we sent it out nationwide and we had people to come from all over people to come from all over so that year most of our schools started so that year most of our schools started the tolerance still the tolerance still started at capacity with that just started at capacity with that just thinking outside of the box so those are thinking outside of the box so those are the kind of the kind of things that I will make sure that we do things that I will make sure that we do is making sure that we're giving is making sure that we're giving every opportunity to pull those teachers every opportunity to pull those teachers in capitalizing in capitalizing on those things that will help us to on those things that will help us to make sure we recruit and retain all of make sure we recruit and retain all of our teachers our teachers okay throw the same question to you mr okay throw the same question to you mr Hanna Hanna well we we knew before this pandemic well we we knew before this pandemic that we had a teacher shortage crisis that we had a teacher shortage crisis uh the individuals just weren't entering uh the individuals just weren't entering the profession that there was the profession that there was a lot of high stakes testing going on uh a lot of high stakes testing going on uh mandated by the state and their mandated by the state and their their pay was being tied to these the their pay was being tied to these the test results of their kids and test results of their kids and to get in the profession with a college to get in the profession with a college degree at 37 or 38 000 degree at 37 or 38 000 they were just passing and and so this they were just passing and and so this is only compounded that problem now with is only compounded that problem now with a pandemic a pandemic i applaud the governor for making i applaud the governor for making teachers and teacher raises a priority teachers and teacher raises a priority we're not going to be able to get to the we're not going to be able to get to the to the 47.5 but we can take a step in to the 47.5 but we can take a step in the right direction for us it was about the right direction for us it was about 5 million 5 million we have locally identified another 4 we have locally identified another 4 million million as a line item uh to move the needle as a line item uh to move the needle significantly significantly with teachers this year uh fingers with teachers this year uh fingers crossed unless the legislature comes in crossed unless the legislature comes in after the election and does something uh after the election and does something uh crazy to our budget crazy to our budget we are positioned well look teachers did we are positioned well look teachers did not get in this profession not get in this profession uh for money they got in it because they uh for money they got in it because they love chilDr.en they love our community love chilDr.en they love our community and they want to make our world a better and they want to make our world a better place and they knew when they got in place and they knew when they got in that they would not have a house at st that they would not have a house at st george island but they also have bills george island but they also have bills to pay to pay and then they also have people to and then they also have people to support and we have to if we talk about support and we have to if we talk about how important they are how important they are uh talk is talk but action is action we uh talk is talk but action is action we have to start paying have to start paying our our instructors like the our our instructors like the professionals that they are if not professionals that they are if not this just the problem is just going to this just the problem is just going to get worse and worse and so get worse and worse and so I'm committed to do that I know our I'm committed to do that I know our school board's committed and committed school board's committed and committed to do that as well to do that as well so any and we have not received a lot of so any and we have not received a lot of new money from the state new money from the state over the course of the last several over the course of the last several years our teachers have gotten about years our teachers have gotten about eight million dollars eight million dollars in salary and bonuses and we're in salary and bonuses and we're positioned now to positioned now to uh add another four four million dollars uh add another four four million dollars to that to really move the needle to that to really move the needle uh for Leon County uh and throughout the uh for Leon County uh and throughout the state of Florida where where we rank state of Florida where where we rank but we have to show them uh and it's and but we have to show them uh and it's and it's not only only money it's not only only money uh other the other perks that come along uh other the other perks that come along with it and it's just being valued and with it and it's just being valued and being appreciated being appreciated that that goes a long way as well but we that that goes a long way as well but we we just have to continue to uplift our we just have to continue to uplift our teachers and to let them know how much teachers and to let them know how much we think of and we believe in them and we think of and we believe in them and how much we value them how much we value them thank you sir we'll wind up our teacher thank you sir we'll wind up our teacher appreciation discussion here appreciation discussion here with you Keisha Washington did you repeat the question sure thing did you repeat the question sure thing it's it's what do we do about uh replacing what do we do about uh replacing although all teachers are although all teachers are by definition irreplaceable but for the by definition irreplaceable but for the uh openings that we may have in the uh openings that we may have in the district for teachers who district for teachers who for whatever reason just can't keep keep for whatever reason just can't keep keep on keeping on on keeping on in the current situation how do we in the current situation how do we recruit more and how do we keep the ones recruit more and how do we keep the ones that we have that we have you know compensated and confident going you know compensated and confident going forward forward um you have to listen to what they want um you have to listen to what they want actually actually um you also have to have to listen to um you also have to have to listen to what was at hand what was at hand early before the summer came the early before the summer came the governor had um governor had um stated that everyone would pass nobody stated that everyone would pass nobody would be left behind so I would have would be left behind so I would have worked with that um worked with that um when I know when I used to go on job when I know when I used to go on job interviews one of my strong points would interviews one of my strong points would be I will work harder today to have a be I will work harder today to have a less stress less stress for Tomorrow so with saying that um for Tomorrow so with saying that um everyone would pass I would have stopped everyone would pass I would have stopped what we were doing what we were doing last year to prepare for the summer in last year to prepare for the summer in the upcoming fall the upcoming fall so the computer process um everything so the computer process um everything we're doing now would already be we're doing now would already be established established along the lines with that database who along the lines with that database who am I speaking with am I speaking with who needs help so about if time the fall who needs help so about if time the fall has come we would already be established has come we would already be established who needs that extra who needs that extra this would again um given less stress to this would again um given less stress to our teachers our teachers um this would also appropriate them to um this would also appropriate them to okay we're ready for the school year now okay we're ready for the school year now i know I'm dealing with x i know I'm dealing with x y z and for the most part most students y z and for the most part most students stay within that same school you might stay within that same school you might lose few here and there lose few here and there but for the most parts most students but for the most parts most students stay in that same school my guidance stay in that same school my guidance counselor would also have in that counselor would also have in that database that i database that i said earlier um where's the student said earlier um where's the student how do I need to be guided um what needs how do I need to be guided um what needs to be implemented for them being a to be implemented for them being a senior and getting ready to exit out senior and getting ready to exit out Leon County schools so you have to Leon County schools so you have to listen also listen also what's going on from the governor what what's going on from the governor what the teachers want the teachers want and how to move forward with everybody and how to move forward with everybody with nobody being left behind with nobody being left behind and with that saying established we and with that saying established we would have been a little bit more ahead would have been a little bit more ahead of the process of the process than what we are now and uh it to me than what we are now and uh it to me would have just been a little less would have just been a little less stressful stressful and able to keep them letting them know and able to keep them letting them know that you know your voice is heard that you know your voice is heard we're here for you and this is how we're we're here for you and this is how we're going on forward going on forward from the professional to the person from the professional to the person personal here Keisha personal here Keisha tell me about the educator in your life tell me about the educator in your life who had the most who had the most impact on you um impact on you um the educator in my life that had the the educator in my life that had the most impact on me was my third grade most impact on me was my third grade teacher teacher Dr.

barbara james I first met Dr.

barbara james I first met her at kate sullivan when we moved back her at kate sullivan when we moved back from orlando from orlando in the 80s and she had just moved from in the 80s and she had just moved from jacksonville as well jacksonville as well in her heart I mean I've never met in her heart I mean I've never met anyone like her anyone like her ever living in the project she took ever living in the project she took care of a handful of us those who would care of a handful of us those who would uh she would take us to the movies she uh she would take us to the movies she would ask us would ask us if we need food she would ask us if if we need food she would ask us if there's anything she could do there's anything she could do you know for us because we were just you know for us because we were just just average kids you know just average kids you know living in the projects and she saw that living in the projects and she saw that we need that need we need that need so with saying that um I was the only so with saying that um I was the only one one that hung with her but stayed with her that hung with her but stayed with her she later on became the principal she later on became the principal at k sullivan and then also the at k sullivan and then also the principal at vaughan elementary school principal at vaughan elementary school and everything that she taught me I took and everything that she taught me I took it to dear heart it to dear heart um I just believe I have a mantle um I just believe I have a mantle actually actually and I would never forget it uh there and I would never forget it uh there were some teachers who were were some teachers who were had their heart set for chilDr.en and had their heart set for chilDr.en and understood the title one understood the title one uh student life but then there were some uh student life but then there were some who understood it but just didn't who understood it but just didn't really care you know they would say uh really care you know they would say uh she's not gonna amount to anything she's not gonna amount to anything she's not gonna be xyz this is in high she's not gonna be xyz this is in high school school when you definitely need that extra edge when you definitely need that extra edge or that extra or that extra uh push in life to say hey you're going uh push in life to say hey you're going to make it you're going to be all right to make it you're going to be all right no matter where you come from no matter where you come from but yeah I would say Dr.

barbara james but yeah I would say Dr.

barbara james which is my number one educator which is my number one educator lucky Hanna uh wreck your brain here uh lucky Hanna uh wreck your brain here uh of all the of all the probably thousands of educators you've probably thousands of educators you've known over the years known over the years which one stands out and and whose voice which one stands out and and whose voice still resonates in your head today still resonates in your head today well for for me personally it would have well for for me personally it would have to be Dr.

to be Dr.

linda t who was a long time teacher linda t who was a long time teacher actually her grandmother was also a actually her grandmother was also a teacher at Leon high school for many teacher at Leon high school for many years at the end of my junior year of years at the end of my junior year of high school high school my father died suddenly from heart my father died suddenly from heart failure I was the oldest of three failure I was the oldest of three chilDr.en chilDr.en i had a little brother that was 14 and a i had a little brother that was 14 and a sister that was 10 and a sister that was 10 and a mom that was home at the time that was a mom that was home at the time that was a nurse and that had a devastating effect nurse and that had a devastating effect of me and I didn't know really how to of me and I didn't know really how to respond as being the respond as being the now the male of the house part of me now the male of the house part of me wanted to Dr.op out at 16 and go to work wanted to Dr.op out at 16 and go to work to help support my mother and my two to help support my mother and my two my little brother my little sister and my little brother my little sister and thankfully thankfully mike conley and gene cox and some folks mike conley and gene cox and some folks at Leon convinced me to stay in school at Leon convinced me to stay in school and but my senior year I had a and but my senior year I had a psychology class psychology class with Dr.

teague and she really helped me with Dr.

teague and she really helped me deal with the grief that I was deal with the grief that I was experiencing at the time and the sudden experiencing at the time and the sudden my dad was only 38 years old and it was my dad was only 38 years old and it was a really hard time in my life and a really hard time in my life and we talked about teachers and yeah I know we talked about teachers and yeah I know it's important to get kids ready for for it's important to get kids ready for for the for the standardized testing that the for the standardized testing that that comes in it you know we had that comes in it you know we had standardized testing back then as well standardized testing back then as well but but there's also that human component to there's also that human component to teachers and and she helped me through a teachers and and she helped me through a really really uh difficult time in my life and it's uh difficult time in my life and it's something I will uh something I will uh i'll never be able to repay her other i'll never be able to repay her other than to to to say thank you to her as than to to to say thank you to her as much as often as I can but much as often as I can but she was a saint but we have so many she was a saint but we have so many teachers like linda t teachers like linda t they're in this profession for the right they're in this profession for the right reason and this their love their love of reason and this their love their love of chilDr.en chilDr.en and I'm just uh so blessed and honored and I'm just uh so blessed and honored to be a part of this profession to be a part of this profession uh but again back to our teachers that's uh but again back to our teachers that's that's who that's who we're here to that's who that's who we're here to support because they're doing support because they're doing the lord's work each and every day thank the lord's work each and every day thank you sir you sir Dr.

Pam tell us about your favorite Dr.

Pam tell us about your favorite that will be miss naomi cummings my that will be miss naomi cummings my first grade teacher first grade teacher in rural jefferson County uh miss in rural jefferson County uh miss cummins made cummins made all of us feel special she taught me to all of us feel special she taught me to read read i hated math and she tells a story today i hated math and she tells a story today that how I run over to mont c list and that how I run over to mont c list and tell her tell her i had a heart a hard time with math so i had a heart a hard time with math so my sTomach would hurt every day at math my sTomach would hurt every day at math time but I love reading time but I love reading and so she still tells that story today and so she still tells that story today she's 86 years old right now she's 86 years old right now but she is one of my favorite people but she is one of my favorite people because of because of her love for education and the love that her love for education and the love that she instilled in me she instilled in me and the second person would be my dad he and the second person would be my dad he was not an educator was not an educator i taught my dad to read after I became a i taught my dad to read after I became a teacher teacher my dad would Dr.ive truck all day and in my dad would Dr.ive truck all day and in the afternoons he would get off and he the afternoons he would get off and he would come to my would come to my edge class and learn to read I taught my edge class and learn to read I taught my dad to read dad to read as an adult and he always made me as an adult and he always made me believe that there's believe that there's nothing that I couldn't do nothing that I couldn't do and I feel his presence right now and I feel his presence right now because I know because I know that he's with me and he's instilling me that he's with me and he's instilling me he instilled in all of us he instilled in all of us that the sky's the limit that anything that the sky's the limit that anything we've put our minds to we've put our minds to and worked hard at we could do it and i and worked hard at we could do it and i have lived that in everything that i have lived that in everything that i have done have done I've worked hard and always believed I've worked hard and always believed that if I worked hard that if I worked hard that I could achieve that I wanted to that I could achieve that I wanted to achieve and so my first grade teacher achieve and so my first grade teacher and my dad is why I'm who I am today and my dad is why I'm who I am today and I give thanks to both of them and I give thanks to both of them thank you so much for sharing that what thank you so much for sharing that what a great story folks time Dr.aws nigh a great story folks time Dr.aws nigh let me give each of you just a couple let me give each of you just a couple minutes to to wrap up to make your best minutes to to wrap up to make your best case case to the voters for the upcoming November to the voters for the upcoming November third election although a lot of folks third election although a lot of folks going to be filling out those going to be filling out those mail ballots before then so this will mail ballots before then so this will give you an opportunity to give you an opportunity to to take your best shot at at reaching to take your best shot at at reaching them ms Washington them ms Washington let's start with you make your case for let's start with you make your case for the voters please the voters please hi my name is Keisha Washington and as i hi my name is Keisha Washington and as i said earlier I'm a graduate of gabby said earlier I'm a graduate of gabby high school high school and it's cliche they say it's time for and it's cliche they say it's time for change change um I like to say don't be so caught up um I like to say don't be so caught up in the credentials that I don't in the credentials that I don't have let me be more concerned of those have let me be more concerned of those who have credentials who have credentials who have not provided for you thus far who have not provided for you thus far that you want to see that you want to see not only talking I'm not really talking not only talking I'm not really talking about the current ones but the previous about the current ones but the previous uh superintendents and as well so I come uh superintendents and as well so I come to you today with my diverse background to you today with my diverse background military military also working at a four-year college also working at a four-year college barry university being administrative barry university being administrative assistant assistant and recruiter also with my military and recruiter also with my military background with my budgeting background with my budgeting and a parent and having compassion and and a parent and having compassion and doing the things that I've already done doing the things that I've already done i come to you as a advocator I come to i come to you as a advocator I come to you you as some person with a person with as some person with a person with knowledge and strength knowledge and strength to get the job done as a superintendent to get the job done as a superintendent um I come to you um I come to you listening to what your wants and your listening to what your wants and your needs are and I come to you needs are and I come to you selling for what you need to get this selling for what you need to get this district continue on district continue on as an a district whether they see it as as an a district whether they see it as not as a lettering but not as a lettering but in our hearts we will always be a in our hearts we will always be a district district and I come to you saying that I won't and I come to you saying that I won't make promises now make promises now but I can you I would do the best I can but I can you I would do the best I can to make for you to make for you to change it how you want it to be to change it how you want it to be changed thank you miss Washington changed thank you miss Washington Rocky Hanna your turn first i'd like to Rocky Hanna your turn first i'd like to thank you thank you all for for hosting us today and also all for for hosting us today and also thank WFSU for your thank WFSU for your wonderful partnership with Leon County wonderful partnership with Leon County schools uh you're truly a blessing to so schools uh you're truly a blessing to so many of our kids and I see many of our kids and I see Kim Kelling on the on the call today Kim Kelling on the on the call today and Kim personally all you've done at and Kim personally all you've done at the gasvini learning center to help our the gasvini learning center to help our young young people grow and to become young young people grow and to become young adults and to see a path for their young adults and to see a path for their future future just very appreciative so again it's just very appreciative so again it's been an honor to serve as superintendent been an honor to serve as superintendent of schools I love Tallahassee I love our of schools I love Tallahassee I love our community community I've worked with kids my entire life and I've worked with kids my entire life and four years ago I made some promises i four years ago I made some promises i made promises to our community and more made promises to our community and more importantly importantly i made promises to our chilDr.en first i made promises to our chilDr.en first and foremost to and foremost to eliminate wasteful spending of the eliminate wasteful spending of the district level and push those resources district level and push those resources down into the schools and the classrooms down into the schools and the classrooms where it belongs I'm proud to say where it belongs I'm proud to say we've pushed an additional three million we've pushed an additional three million dollars a year down into our schools and dollars a year down into our schools and classrooms for school supplies classrooms for school supplies furniture technology and those things furniture technology and those things that principals and the classroom that principals and the classroom teachers need teachers need we also made a priority of the arts and we also made a priority of the arts and athletics we get an additional million athletics we get an additional million dollars a year to support the arts and dollars a year to support the arts and athletics programs athletics programs in our school we know those programs are in our school we know those programs are vital importance to keep our kids vital importance to keep our kids engaged engaged it's a lot of big reason a lot of them it's a lot of big reason a lot of them come to school and come to school and the big reason why a lot of them the big reason why a lot of them graduate from high school graduate from high school uh talking about graduating from high uh talking about graduating from high school I'm proud that we increased our school I'm proud that we increased our graduation rates we're now graduation rates we're now over 93 percent fifth highest in this in over 93 percent fifth highest in this in the state of Florida the state of Florida um so academically we're doing well um so academically we're doing well we've pushed a lot of resources down we've pushed a lot of resources down for our schools and our in our teachers for our schools and our in our teachers for our employees we've raised the for our employees we've raised the minimum wage by 25 percent minimum wage by 25 percent I've given support staff workers bus I've given support staff workers bus Dr.ivers food service workers between a Dr.ivers food service workers between a 15 and a 20 15 and a 20 pay increase over the last three and a pay increase over the last three and a half years I talked about what we did half years I talked about what we did for teachers about eight million dollars for teachers about eight million dollars and another four million dollars and another four million dollars uh budgeted for this year to help with uh budgeted for this year to help with with teacher salaries with teacher salaries uh added to the emergency reserve reduce uh added to the emergency reserve reduce capital debt capital debt by 60 million dollars financially we are by 60 million dollars financially we are in a in a very good place to to weather this storm very good place to to weather this storm uh some of my top priorities uh were uh some of my top priorities uh were title one schools we implemented title one schools we implemented pre-k all day at our title one schools pre-k all day at our title one schools for parents that couldn't afford the for parents that couldn't afford the wraparound services wraparound services we also committed an additional quarter we also committed an additional quarter million dollars a year to title one million dollars a year to title one principles to help those kids be able to principles to help those kids be able to go on field trips go on field trips like uh students in other parts of our like uh students in other parts of our of our community of our community uh really started bearing down on uh uh really started bearing down on uh pre-k and vpk programs i pre-k and vpk programs i have a director of pre-k early learning have a director of pre-k early learning now that's partnering with the early now that's partnering with the early learning coalition because we know learning coalition because we know if we invest resources on the front end if we invest resources on the front end when kids are zero to five when kids are zero to five uh when ninety-five percent of their uh when ninety-five percent of their brain is forming we can get our kids brain is forming we can get our kids better prepared for kindergarten and better prepared for kindergarten and their case will have experience and their case will have experience and close that gap on the front end close that gap on the front end and then on the other end of the and then on the other end of the spectrum the rebranding renaming spectrum the rebranding renaming retooling of lively technical college retooling of lively technical college because we know all kids aren't meant to because we know all kids aren't meant to go to college and it's okay go to college and it's okay uh you're not a failure there is another uh you're not a failure there is another path and to partner with career source path and to partner with career source in the chamber in the chamber uh to to make those things happen for uh to to make those things happen for kids the projects at records in fairview kids the projects at records in fairview i am very proud of the work we've done i am very proud of the work we've done over the last four years but there are over the last four years but there are many things still on my to-do list many things still on my to-do list and if I'm re-elected I am I am fully and if I'm re-elected I am I am fully committed to get those things committed to get those things accomplished but accomplished but um again it's you couldn't have written um again it's you couldn't have written a better story a better story i I've had a wonderful career and look i I've had a wonderful career and look so look forward to hopefully serving so look forward to hopefully serving another four years thank you sir another four years thank you sir and through luck of the Dr.aw Dr.

Pam and through luck of the Dr.aw Dr.

Pam Hightower the final word goes to you Hightower the final word goes to you ma'am ma'am i want to adDr.ess the whole child the i want to adDr.ess the whole child the educational educational needs the emotion the social physical needs the emotion the social physical and the mental needs and the mental needs i think we do that by making sure we're i think we do that by making sure we're providing a safe nurturing and caring providing a safe nurturing and caring environment for our chilDr.en to environment for our chilDr.en to learn and for our staffs to work I want learn and for our staffs to work I want to increase the mental health services to increase the mental health services for our students for our students as I said I'm in schools as mr Hanna as I said I'm in schools as mr Hanna said I'm in school said I'm in school every day every day with those schools every day every day with those schools that I've worked with and I see the that I've worked with and I see the needs of our schools I see the students needs of our schools I see the students who are hurting I see some of the mental who are hurting I see some of the mental health challenges health challenges that some of our students are facing and that some of our students are facing and the impact it has on their learning and the impact it has on their learning and teachers teaching teachers teaching so we want to make sure that we're so we want to make sure that we're providing those mental health services providing those mental health services we need to also make sure that we're we need to also make sure that we're providing services providing services to our parents that we're putting on to our parents that we're putting on workshop especially in our workshop especially in our african-american african-american communities where mental health is not communities where mental health is not something that we talk about a lot something that we talk about a lot so we need to make sure that we're so we need to make sure that we're educating our african-american families educating our african-american families to see those signs of what chilDr.en are to see those signs of what chilDr.en are having some challenges having some challenges and get the help through the school and get the help through the school district where we can have trained district where we can have trained mental health counselors to work with mental health counselors to work with our students our students i know a lot of our parents the students i know a lot of our parents the students are having some uh emotional some esc are having some uh emotional some esc issues issues some artistic some trauma issues we need some artistic some trauma issues we need to make sure to make sure that we are adDr.essing all of those that we are adDr.essing all of those needs uh the second thing we want to do needs uh the second thing we want to do is close the achievement gap is close the achievement gap and I'm so sorry that I got emotional and I'm so sorry that I got emotional but closing the achievement gap but closing the achievement gap 40 percent of our students in our last 40 percent of our students in our last fsa approximately 40 percent of our fsa approximately 40 percent of our third grade students third grade students are not reading on grade level that is are not reading on grade level that is unheard of that is not something that we unheard of that is not something that we want to be proud of want to be proud of we need with a university we have we need with a university we have Florida State as I said earlier Florida Florida State as I said earlier Florida state vmu and TCC here state vmu and TCC here and we have some of the best teachers and we have some of the best teachers anywhere and we have 40 anywhere and we have 40 of our students that are not reading on of our students that are not reading on grade level as of the last fsa grade level as of the last fsa and I hate to see what that would look and I hate to see what that would look like this year with the learning slide like this year with the learning slide that we're going to experience that we're going to experience from covert if we don't put something in from covert if we don't put something in place to help that place to help that we talked about recruiting and retaining we talked about recruiting and retaining teachers teachers our president has made them essential our president has made them essential workers we have always known that they workers we have always known that they were essential workers and they should were essential workers and they should be valued be valued and paid as such we want to show our and paid as such we want to show our appreciation I don't think there's appreciation I don't think there's anyone anyone in this nation that cannot appreciate in this nation that cannot appreciate teachers teachers where they are right now when we had to where they are right now when we had to pivot home and grandparents pivot home and grandparents had to become teachers I think it became had to become teachers I think it became real that teachers are really important real that teachers are really important not only teachers the bus Dr.iver not only teachers the bus Dr.iver everyone that it takes everyone that it takes to run a school schools don't exist to run a school schools don't exist because of because of me the superintendent miss Washington it me the superintendent miss Washington it doesn't exist because of us it exists doesn't exist because of us it exists because of the students that we must because of the students that we must serve serve it is our job to provide a quality it is our job to provide a quality education for those students education for those students at whatever cost so schools and anybody at whatever cost so schools and anybody who worked for me will tell you who worked for me will tell you Dr.

Hightower will tell you quick you're Dr.

Hightower will tell you quick you're not here because of you not here because of you you're here because of the students and you're here because of the students and the parents who allow the parents who allow us the opportunity to work with our us the opportunity to work with our chilDr.en so we need to make sure that we chilDr.en so we need to make sure that we are valuing them are valuing them that we're listening to what their needs that we're listening to what their needs are and giving them timely feedback are and giving them timely feedback and giving the response that we can in a and giving the response that we can in a timely manner timely manner the other thing that we want to make the other thing that we want to make sure that we're looking at is given an sure that we're looking at is given an instructional leadership capacity that instructional leadership capacity that means professional development means professional development so that our teachers can improve their so that our teachers can improve their craft that we're providing those craft that we're providing those opportunities for them opportunities for them um in a time I know with the covet we're um in a time I know with the covet we're all having to do things Zoom with Zoom all having to do things Zoom with Zoom now but if that's the new norm that we now but if that's the new norm that we just make sure that we're giving them just make sure that we're giving them the most targeted the most targeted professional development that we can professional development that we can possibly give possibly give and the next thing we talked about the and the next thing we talked about the graduation rate I looked at the last graduation rate I looked at the last graduation rate graduation rate it is 97 but our traditional graduation it is 97 but our traditional graduation rate students are going through getting rate students are going through getting the 24 credits the 24 credits it's at 59 which I think is greatly it's at 59 which I think is greatly impacting a lot of other issues that our impacting a lot of other issues that our students are students are having I think the crime rate they can't having I think the crime rate they can't read so all of those things are impacted read so all of those things are impacted when our students can't read and they're when our students can't read and they're not successful with a 59 not successful with a 59 graduation rate I don't think that can graduation rate I don't think that can be something we can be be something we can be proud of though it may be high because proud of though it may be high because of the other and I was a title and of the other and I was a title and director so I understand some of those director so I understand some of those alternative pathways alternative pathways that we're usually using but I want to that we're usually using but I want to increase as the superintendent said we increase as the superintendent said we have lively which is an have lively which is an excellent program everyone is not going excellent program everyone is not going to college to college but there's a career path we didn't make but there's a career path we didn't make sure that we were utilizing that sure that we were utilizing that as a principal of a title one school i as a principal of a title one school i had a young lady had a young lady at my school who was very bright I went at my school who was very bright I went to her high school graduation on to her high school graduation on Thursday at Rickards Thursday at Rickards and I went to her I was invited to her and I went to her I was invited to her graduation from TCC graduation from TCC she got her aaa on Saturday her high she got her aaa on Saturday her high school diploma on Thursday we didn't school diploma on Thursday we didn't make sure that we are sending more make sure that we are sending more students who are capable of that trade students who are capable of that trade and getting on track with that early and getting on track with that early learning we've got to start at the learning we've got to start at the ground ground it doesn't start from the high school it doesn't start from the high school and move down it starts from earlier and move down it starts from earlier learning learning we must expand the complete crate we must expand the complete crate program we have empty classrooms program we have empty classrooms at several of our schools and at western at several of our schools and at western so we need to make sure that we're so we need to make sure that we're utilizing utilizing those classrooms and starting with early those classrooms and starting with early intervention for all of our students intervention for all of our students and the next thing we want to do is make and the next thing we want to do is make sure that we're having family engagement sure that we're having family engagement that we're looking at informing our that we're looking at informing our parents informed parents will be there parents informed parents will be there to support you to support you and it doesn't mean that they have to be and it doesn't mean that they have to be a PTO meeting every time the door opens a PTO meeting every time the door opens my dad as I said was a truck driver my my dad as I said was a truck driver my mom was a maid she couldn't go to PTO mom was a maid she couldn't go to PTO meetings my dad couldn't come to PTO meetings my dad couldn't come to PTO meetings meetings but they made sure that we went to but they made sure that we went to school every day ready to learn school every day ready to learn our homework was ready and if there was our homework was ready and if there was a problem at school a problem at school and someone got in touch with mom or my and someone got in touch with mom or my dad then it was taken care of dad then it was taken care of so sometimes they can't come but they so sometimes they can't come but they can be there to support us in other ways can be there to support us in other ways so we just need to make sure that we're so we just need to make sure that we're engaging our family engaging our family and our community and finally and our community and finally we need to make sure that we're having we need to make sure that we're having open and timely communication open and timely communication with all of our stakeholders to make with all of our stakeholders to make sure that if there's a concern that we sure that if there's a concern that we get back with them in a timely manner get back with them in a timely manner that we'll go listen making sure that that we'll go listen making sure that they understand that we're listening they understand that we're listening to what they are saying what they're to what they are saying what they're saying I believe that saying I believe that every child in this district can learn every child in this district can learn i have a plan that is going to take our i have a plan that is going to take our district district and move us forward I think with the and move us forward I think with the compassion with patience compassion with patience we're going to get through this this is we're going to get through this this is not going to last always not going to last always but on the other end because why i but on the other end because why i decided to run for superintendent for decided to run for superintendent for all of those reasons all of those reasons it wasn't because of the copic it's it wasn't because of the copic it's because of all the reason that I would because of all the reason that I would mention mention so though we're going to get back to so though we're going to get back to those times so we need a leader those times so we need a leader who is compassionate who is an who is compassionate who is an instructional who understands curriculum instructional who understands curriculum and instruction and instruction and will be there to make sure that our and will be there to make sure that our students move forward students move forward so let's join Hightower let's join team so let's join Hightower let's join team Hightower Hightower hope helping others produce education hope helping others produce education that means that we're going to use that means that we're going to use everyone in this community it will take everyone in this community it will take a village and together we will all rise a village and together we will all rise high thank you Pam Hightower thank you high thank you Pam Hightower thank you Keisha Washington and thank you Keisha Washington and thank you Rocky Hanna for being part of our first Rocky Hanna for being part of our first Political Perspectives in the run-up to Political Perspectives in the run-up to the November the November third general election Perspectives third general election Perspectives produced by WFSU Public Media in produced by WFSU Public Media in Tallahassee Tallahassee thanks to Taylor Cox, Paul Dam Amy Diaz thanks to Taylor Cox, Paul Dam Amy Diaz de Villegas, de Villegas, Trisha Moynihan, Lydell Rawls, Devin thank Trisha Moynihan, Lydell Rawls, Devin thank you too for all your help, our director you too for all your help, our director of content Kim Kelling of content Kim Kelling for setting things up I'm Tom Flanigan for setting things up I'm Tom Flanigan next Political Perspectives Thursday next Political Perspectives Thursday September 24th September 24th we'll focus on the Leon County we'll focus on the Leon County commission at large group one contest commission at large group one contest we invite you to join us then for we invite you to join us then for another Political Perspectives another Political Perspectives from WFSU Public Media